Wed 23rd Aug 2000.
1st rd, 1st leg.

Subs not used.
Smith
Austin

Subs not used.
Hallworth
Eckhardt
Earnshaw
Skelly
Hill

Report from NigelBlues.
CITY made a stirring fightback after a disastrous opening half-hour to lose by a single goal and gave them a fighting chance for second leg in a fortnight. They were cheered as heroes when they walked off the pitch but without exception, every City fan leaving the ground felt some disappointment that they didn’t get a draw which would have been fully deserved.

The main reason why the comeback was not complete? Crystal Palace were being overrun as some of their youngsters were tiring, they were on the rack. Alan Smith uses all three of his permitted substitutes, which gave them new life, and they stabilised.

Billy, as always, kept all 11 players on the field all match. That’s 11 players who spent the first half running themselves into the ground chasing Palace players. And that’s despite certain players e.g. Brayson, Young, Greene and Nugent amongst others who were clearly “gone” with 15 to 20 minutes remaining. Yet, a subs bench including Eckhardt and Rob Earnshaw gets overlooked. Billy’s non-use of substitutes since he took charge at Cardiff is past being a joke, it’s an embarrassment.

None of that however should detract from a superb effort by the 11 boys in blue (or 10 in blue and 1 in green) and there is absolutely nothing to fear in the return match.

It was an horrendous journey with the M25 as hectic as ever with the added fun of the final few miles getting through London suburbs to Selhurst Park resembling, as one passenger, “passing through 30 Canton’s”.

Selhurst Park is a decent stadium and shows how old grounds can be re-developed. A Sainsbury's supermarket next door always closes 90 minutes before home games leaving a large free car park for fans. They have redeveloped stands behind either goals, one of them with hospitality boxes like looks like the average apartment in Ibiza or Majorca, and two larger stands running pitch length. City were given a block in one of these stands so our 450 were strategically assembled from just inside half way and towards one of the goals (which City defended first half).

Willie Boland was made Captain for the night in the absence of Andy Thompson and over club captain Kevin Nugent who usually gets the job. A decision apparently made by Bobby Gould. Wish he’d hurry up and start making the tactical decisions and substitutions too.

Boland responded in magnificent style. Easily City’s best performer in my view, he continued his early season promise with a show of passion, energy and tackling that put the foundations in place for City to fight back. Dare I suggest that if he’d only played like this last season, we might still be a Division 2 club? It’s great to see Boland finally showing City fans his capabilities at last.

City started well and put some pressure on the Palace goal. They should have taken an early lead as a beautiful curling cross from the touchline saw Kevin Nugent steal in at the far post. There was a roar of anticipation from the City fans as Nuge seemed set for a header but adjusted himself to shoot instead and his weak effort was blocked.

Shortly afterwards, Daniel Gabbidon was booked for a needless challenge and, all of a sudden, the tide seemed to turn. Palace are a team of youngsters, seven of them under 21 years old, with a couple of experienced guys, notably Neil Ruddock. They have enthusiasm and plenty of pace and City were struggling to combat that. Despite the efforts of Bonner and Boland, Palace were taking over midfield and when they hit balls forward, Greene and Young were finding it difficult to cope.

On 15 minutes, Palace went ahead with a glorious goal but questions should be asked about how City deal with it. Cardiff were threatening on the attack. Andy Legg hit a left footed cross which ballooned off a defender, Nugent missed challenging in the area and the ball broke loose on the edge of the area with no Cardiff player within 20 yards of the ball. Where were they?

A Palace defender, Black, was given all the time and space he needed to bring the ball forward 30 yards look up and hit a fantastic 50 yard crossfield pass to find Morrison one on one with Scott Young. Young was still favourite for the ball but somehow misjudged the flight. The ball dropped behind him and the rest was sheer class as Morrison controlled the ball first time on the far edge of the area, cut inside Young and hit a superb curled effort high into the opposite corner leaving Walton helpless.

It lifted Palace another notch and City were struggling. Out of the blue however, Andy Legg had a throw in midway in the Palace half. His long throw came back out towards him, he advanced, beat a marker and let fly from nearly 30 yards. The ball crashed off the inside of the post with Nugent and Brayson too slow to react as Palace bundled the ball away. A magnificent shot that deserved a goal.

Palace came again and City were under heavy pressure, blocking shots and giving away corners. From one of them, on the half-hour, Neil Ruddock, easily beating Dave Greene who put on a poor personal show nodded a simple floated effort home with total ease. It was a terrible goal to concede and by now, City were being outplayed and there were fears they could take a hiding.

They showed character and determination to get through to half-time but it was probably their worst 45 minute display so far this season. It wasn’t for the want of trying so credit to Palace for making City look second best all over the field.

H/T Palace 2 City 0

Second half, different story.

The City support were whipped up as Cardiff came out attacking “our end” of the pitch. There was a non stop chant of “Barmy Army” which, for the first time I can remember, was interspersed with a shout of BLUES instead of the usual “ohh ahh” but then that was added too. It was a CCFC in the house renegade megamix and time to party on down with the possee sheep sh*gging massif.

The fans had been tremendous, as always, first half, with various chants and good humour too especially when Palace thought they were being original with chants of sheep sh*ggers and Ing-er-lund. Of course, they got it back with interest.

City came out with renewed effort and like the fans, they took over the game. It was Palace’s turn to chase shadows and it was uplifting.

By now, Willie Boland had taken off midfield, winning balls here, there and everywhere and disrupting every attempt Palace made to come away. On the wings, Legg and Low were seeing plenty of the ball. The ball was pinging around the Palace goal but it wasn’t quite happening in attack. Nugent was winning little in and around the area, it comes to something when even Ruddock makes him look slow, and Brayson never quite got in the game, partly because he had so few scraps to feed off.

City danger always looked to be at set pieces when the big men got up and on 55 minutes, they were rewarded. A free-kick was played wide to Andy Legg who beat his man and floated a superb cross. Scott Young charged in, headed downwards and home from 8 yards with an effort the Palace keeper seemed slow to react to.

The 400 made the noise of 3,000 and it was like we’d won the cup. You thought it couldn’t get any louder but it did. City were rampant and dominant. But Palace were throwing bodies in the way as Boland and Low were blocked, Bonner fired over and Brayson was cut out. The extra experience seemed to help City who looked more assured on the ball, Legg with more skill than anybody else, as some Palace players were wilting.

But this is where managerial knowledge and tactics can influence games. Crystal Palace have it - Alan Smith, highly respected throughout the game for his knowledge and expertise, Cardiff City don’t – enter Billy Ayre. There’s no pleasure in criticising but it’s just so apparent and as a City fan, it’s totally frustrating to watch.

Smith, within a matter of minutes, introduced all 3 substitutes. Nobody special but it gave them fresh legs and revitalised the side. They rode the storm. Suddenly all eyes were on the City bench as it was obvious we needed to make some changes too as we had become comfortable but threatening to do absolutely nothing.

Billy stood there in his shorts with his arms folded, as he did most of the night, it was bewildering to observe. The only time a sub remotely appeared likely was when Scott Young was injured in a collision. He never appeared 100% afterwards but still Billy soldiered on. Brayson has little left to offer so Earnie appeared the perfect replacement, you just sensed his pace would caused damage but nothing.

The support, as one, keep the efforts going for the team but there were chants of “will we ever make a sub”, “we want Earnie” and then “Billy out” and he seemed to be the only person on the planet who saw the need to continue with the same eleven.

The match petered out with City never really threatening to equalise and only Dave Greene threatening to help Palace get another. Palace finished looking the stronger side again but it was all due to City’s tiredness.

Greene missed a ball on halfway sending a Palace player away down the left, he desperately grabbed his shoulders. Luckily, Boland had got back into the middle or it could have been a red but yellow was awarded. Scott Young must have said something too as both central defenders were then booked and the free kick was brought forward 10 yards to the edge of the area. A poor wall gifted Palace a shot on goal but Walton got down to save.

The refereeing was frustrating second half especially as a game which wasn’t dirty, must have had an extraordinary number of free kicks. It was never allowed to flow and decisions were baffling and inconsistent but we’re used to that by now. To rub it in, Josh Low got booked on the instructions of a linesman when he must have said after a decision that clearly should have gone his way, didn’t. They didn’t bother with the 10 extra yards this time though.

In the closing minutes, Greene then totally missed cushioning an easy header to allow another Palace forward to burst past him. Fortunately, Leggy tore back and made a great edge of the area tackle. Another Palace goal would have been an injustice but it showed the tiredness out there and Greene is prone to horrendous lapses. The final whistle blew, the players were richly applauded for giving it everything and there is great optimism that we can turn this around and advance. City didn’t let us down at all and there was a great deal to be satisfied about.

Be at Ninian in 2 weeks and roar the boys home!! Neil Ruddock will love to see and hear you all as the he enjoyed the endless chants to his physique which made Dai Thomas look like Mr Weight Watcher 2000 in comparison. Took it all in good humour though.

Another good night out in London, they always are.

Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds.

Report from TotalWales.
CARDIFF CITY have been left with a tough task in the second leg of this Worthington Cup tie after going down at Selhurst Park last night. But they have given themselves hope of making progress thanks to Scott Young’s 55th-minute goal and a second-half display full of character.

Cardiff kept the same 11 players in the action throughout, while Palace made three substitutions in the second half.